Abstract
M.A.
The primary aim of this study is to make an appraisal of some short stories from H.M
Nkadimeng's Selepe Gomela.
The concept "appraisal" means to evaluate or to estimate the value, amount, quality or
success. Like other literary genres, a short story has certain requirements. There is a
great diversity in the form of the short story, but some distinguishing elements are its plot
structure, setting, theme, characterization and style. It is in the light of these elements
that Nkadimeng's collection Selepe Gomela will be appraised.
As the title of this study indicates, only six of the nine short stories will be analysed.
They are as follows:
Lehumo le tliga bokgoba.
Ruri o mpolaile hlogo ye ntsho.
Mahlajana a a lahletga a le rufi.
Mogwera ke tlo fihla le wena mo o yago.
Letuku ke mokadikatga.
Ke belegetS'e dithaka.
It is hoped that these six short stories will adequately measure Nkadimeng's success or
failure in the light of the aforementioned elements.
The method of analysis in this study will be based on the existing critiques and some of
the outstanding works of short story writers in older literatures such as English, Afrikaans
and other African Languages. Attention will also be focused on earlier short story
collections of Northern Sotho writers to present - day ones.